Navy Names Submarine After Former President Carter

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 27) -- The U.S. Navy on Monday officially named one of its new Seawolf class submarines for former President Jimmy Carter. The U.S.S. Jimmy Carter is currently under construction and is scheduled to be launched in December of 2001.

Carter served as a Naval officer on submarines in the early 1950s. He is the only U.S. President to have ever served on a submarine. He also worked on the construction of the first nuclear submarine under Admiral Hyman Rickover.

During his speech at the naming ceremony, Carter honored Rickover saying, "those times with Admiral Rickover changed my life. Second only to my father, he shaped my life."

Carter also took a bit of a shot at the man who beat him in the 1980 election, former President Ronald Reagan. Near the conclusion of his speech, Carter said, "If I had a choice between a submarine and an airport, I would choose a submarine." Washington National Airport was recently renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Responding to a question about a noted peacemaker having a weapon of war named for him, Carter said the strength of our armed forces ensures that we can enforce peace around the globe. He said submarines like the new Seawolf class help guarantee a peaceful future for the United States.

The Seawolf is the newest class of nuclear submarine and is billed as the world's quietest sub. According to the Navy a Seawolf submarine is quieter when cruising at tactical speeds than a Los Angeles class submarine is when tied to a dock. The other two Seawolf class submarines being built will be named the U.S.S. Seawolf and the U.S.S. Connecticut.